The entire time I have owned this car, there have been issues with the ABS - especially when the road is wet and driving down hill. When applying the brakes in these conditions, the car does not always stop even when pushing the brake pedal to the floor. You will here a clicking or grinding type of noise. It's not the pads or rotors because it happens when they have been replaced. In these conditions, I have to make sure I have plenty of room so I won't hit the car in front of me. I have on several occasions not been able to stop at a red light and gone through the intersection. It happens more frequently in icy conditions even when driving super slow. From reading other online complaints, I see I'm not the only one. I believe this is a manufacturer's safety defect.
The worst 1997 Buick Skylark problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes16
- Electrical13
- Airbags12
- Engine10
- Acceleration6
- Suspension6
- Transmission6
- Body5
- Visibility5
- Seat belts4
- Lights3
- Steering3
- Seats2
- Fuel system1
- Locks1
- Tires1
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1997 Buick Skylark
Recalls 3
Electrical system: ignition: switch
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles. If the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts.
- Risk
- If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch. Owner notification began march 27, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020, pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737, buick at 1‑800‑521‑7300, or oldsmobile at 1‑800‑442‑6537.
Recall number 02V070000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood
- What is wrong
- The protective cover for the underhood fuse center was omitted. Without this cover, the positive terminal bolt on the fuse block is exposed and can contact the insulated negative battery cable. If the insulation on the negative cable becomes sufficiently worn, an electrical short circuit can occur between the positive terminal and negative cable resulting in extremely high current flow.
- Risk
- This high current flow can cause arcing and result in an underhood fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect these vehicles for the presence of the protective cover and, if necessary, install a protective cover to the underhood fuse center.
Recall number 97V059000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly
- What is wrong
- During assembly of the left rear quarter panel, some welds were missed. This does not comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."
- Risk
- In the event of a rear end collision, the vehicle sheet metal structure will not perform as designed causing unexpected damage to the fuel tank or fuel lines, resulting in fuel leakage. If this is a fuel leak and an ignition source, a fire could occur.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect for the missing welds and, if necessary, place three whelds between the involved panels applying primer, sealer and anti-corrosion materials.
Recall number 96V212000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 1997 Buick Skylark 54
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating...
- This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to Unlock Delco...
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios...
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios...
- This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the media disc player with the latest...
- Vehicle Recalls
- This informational bulletin provides the technician with information on what E85 fuel may due to a non E85...
- Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- ABS pump running when not needed. nj
- 4T40E or 4T45E will not shift no diagnostic trouble codes. tt
1997 Buick Skylark fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4‑cyl | FWD | 19 | 29 | 23 |
| 3.1L 6‑cyl | FWD | 18 | 26 | 21 |
What 1997 Buick Skylark owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick skylark. The contact stated that the air bags deployed unexpectedly. A police report was not filed and an injury was sustained. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and the current mileage was 140,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick skylark. The contact stated that the anti-theft system would activate independently, causing the vehicle to stall without warning. The failure was recurring with the illumination of the anti-theft warning light. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start with the key in the ignition. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic, who diagnosed that the instrument panel cluster or central computer would need to be replaced. The contact was then referred to an authorized dealer for possible repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 54000.
1997 buick skylark. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle recall *tgw the consumer was informed there was a short in the wiring system which was causing the battery to die. The consumer referenced recall # 02v070000.
The car had been stalling for more than a year but not as frequent. The most dangerous time it stalled was in the middle of interstate 240n. My wife and child was with me. It was rush hour and there were lots of traffic. We were terrified! Once I merged over to the side of the highway, we had to wait for about 20 minutes before the car started again. Mind you, we are on the side of a busy and dangerous interstate highway. I noticed when I tried to start the car after it had stalled, the theft system light was flashing. I had no idea why the theft system light was flashing or if it had anything to do with the car not starting. I called a technician I know and explained to him that the car sounded like it was to start but keep stalling. He asked me to look at the dash and tell him what I saw. The theft system light was flashing, it remained on for a while, then it went out after about 15 minutes. He told me to try to start the car again. It started. This (the car stalls, wait awhile, then it starts) went on for awhile. On september 15, 2009, I went out to start the car to take my child to school and the car would not start. To this day, I can not get my car to start and the theft system light is still flashing. There are several people I know who own buick skylarks and are having similar problems with the theft system. Some have gotten several things replaced such as the key, the switch, etc and have yet to have this problem corrected. It seems to be a problem with the buick skylarks theft system manufactured around 1997! Is there anything being done or will there be something done to correct this problem? This could cause serious injuries and/or deaths!
When it rains the car leaks. It has been doing this for a few years. Previously it was in a garage, so we don't no for sure how long this has been going on. We brought it to a garage to be fixed, they worked on the area of the cowl section. But couldn't fix it. Also the air conditioning never worked right and had to have a charge every year. Finally it quit all together.
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick skylark. After parking the vehicle, the contact noticed that the water pump was leaking. There were no warning lights present prior to the failure. He checked the water and oil levels daily. The vehicle was not diagnosed by a dealer. The failure mileage was 26,000 and current mileage was 27,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick skylark. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own. The contact applied the brakes, but the vehicle would not stop. He then applied the emergency brake and it slowed the vehicle down to approximately 40 MPH, but did not come to a complete stop. He lost control of the vehicle and the two front tires blew out, causing him to crash into a tree. The vehicle began smoking from the engine compartment. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact had to shut the engine off completely in order to stop the wheels from spinning after the crash. The vehicle was towed to his residence, where it currently remains. A mechanic from the repair shop stated that the cable that operates the cruise control turned backwards and jammed the throttle linkage. This caused the vehicle to accelerate uncontrollably. The contact sustained injuries and was transported to the hospital. The failure and current mileages were approximately 123,000. Updated 12/12/07
Passenger airbag deployed for no reason while driving !
Power windows - very slow going up and down for the last two years. All 4 window regulators and motors have stopped working at the same time. Cannot put windows down to get out of car if it lands in a canal or waterway along the highway. Cost $500.00 a window to have them replaced. Friend has a 2002 buick and all 4 window regulators and motors do not work.
Compare the 1997 Buick Skylark
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Questions about the 1997 Buick Skylark
Is the 1997 Buick Skylark reliable?
Owners have filed 79 complaints about the 1997 Buick Skylark, 1.7 times a typical Skylark model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Buick Skylark?
Brakes, with 16 complaints. Next is electrical (13).
How many recalls does the 1997 Buick Skylark have?
3 recalls, covering electrical system and fuel system, gasoline.
What year does the Buick Skylark have bad brakes?
The Buick Skylark model years with the most brakes complaints are 1995 (17 complaints), 1996 (16 complaints) and 1997 (16 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1997 Buick Skylark get?
Official estimates for the 1997 Buick Skylark range from 21 to 23 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.4L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 19 city and 29 highway.
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